Mailing Envelope with Reinforcing Arrangement

ABSTRACT

An envelope includes a first envelope panel, a second envelope panel, a padded layer, and a reinforcing arrangement. The first envelope panel has a main portion and a flap portion foldably extended from the main portion along a folding line. The second envelope panel has one second peripheral edge portion attached on a first peripheral edge portion of the main portion of the first envelope panel to form a receiving cavity and an access opening adjacent to the folding line. The reinforcing arrangement includes a reinforcing member attached on the first envelope panel along the folding line so as to provide structural reinforcement to the first envelope panel along the folding line.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Field of Invention

The present invention relates to an envelope, and more particularly to apadded envelope comprising a reinforcing arrangement which is capable ofproviding enhanced protection around a folding line of the envelope.

Description of Related Arts

A conventional envelope, such as an envelope with some sorts of paddedarrangement, usually comprises an envelope body and a flap extended fromthe envelope body. The envelope body usually comprises two rectangularpanel members attached in an edge-to-edge manner in three of their edgesso as to form a receiving cavity of the envelope body and an accessopening communicating the receiving cavity with an exterior of theenvelope. On the other hand, the flap is foldably extended from one ofthe rectangular panel members and is arranged to selectively andfoldably seal the access opening of the envelope. In order to providesome sorts of protection to the items stored inside the receivingcavity, the conventional envelope may also comprise a padded layerattached on an inner side of the rectangular panel members. The paddedlayer may have a plurality of bubbled filled members arranged in anarray for providing cushion to the items stored in the receiving cavity.

A major disadvantage of the above-mentioned envelope is that theenvelope is structurally weak along a folding line between the flap andthe corresponding rectangular panel member. Since the rectangular panelmembers are attached with the padded layer, they are structurallythicker and are not vulnerable to wear and tear when the envelope isbeing mailed. However, damage usually occurs around the folding linebetween the flap and the corresponding rectangular panel member. Whenthe damage is too large, the items stored in the receiving cavity mayaccidentally and undesirably come out from the envelope.

As a result, there is a need to develop an envelope which isstructurally durable during a typical mailing process.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Certain variations of the present invention provide an envelopecomprising a reinforcing arrangement which is capable of providingenhanced protection along and around a folding line of the envelope.

In one aspect of the present invention, it provides an envelope,comprising:

a first envelope panel having a main portion and a flap portion foldablyextended from the main portion along a folding line defined as aboundary between the main portion and the flap portion, the main portionhaving a first peripheral edge portion;

a second envelope panel having at least one second peripheral edgeportion attached on the first peripheral edge portion of the mainportion of the first envelope panel to form a receiving cavity betweenthe main portion and the second envelope panel, and an access openingadjacent to the folding line;

a padded layer attached on an inner side of the main portion of thefirst envelope panel and an inner side of the second envelope panel; and

a reinforcing arrangement which comprises a reinforcing member attachedon the first envelope panel along the folding line so as to providestructural reinforcement to the first envelope panel along the foldingline.

This summary presented above is provided merely to introduce certainconcepts and not to identify any key or essential features of theclaimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an envelope according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the envelope according to thepreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of the envelope according to thepreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a first alternative mode of the envelope according to thepreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a second alternative mode of the envelope according to thepreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a third alternative mode of the envelope according to thepreferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following detailed description of the preferred embodiment is thepreferred mode of carrying out the invention. The description is not tobe taken in any limiting sense. It is presented for the purpose ofillustrating the general principles of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 of the drawings, an envelope according toa preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Broadly,the envelope may comprise a first envelope panel 10, a second envelopepanel 20, a padded layer 30 and a reinforcing arrangement 40. The firstenvelope panel 10 may have a main portion 11 and a flap portion 12foldably extended from the main portion 11 along a folding line 13defined as a boundary between the main portion 11 and the flap portion12. The main portion may have a first peripheral edge portion 111.

The second envelope panel 20 may have at least one second peripheraledge portion 21 attached on the first peripheral edge portion 111 of themain portion 11 of the first envelope panel 10 to form a receivingcavity 50 between the main portion 11 and the second envelope panel 20,and an access opening 51 formed adjacent to the folding line 13.

The padded layer 30 may be attached on an inner side of the main portion11 of the first envelope panel 10 and an inner side of the secondenvelope panel 20.

The reinforcing arrangement 40 may comprises a reinforcing member 41attached on the first envelope panel 10 along the folding line 13 so asto provide structural reinforcement to the first envelope panel 10 alongand around the folding line 13.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, theenvelope may be utilized for temporarily carrying items to be mailed.The first envelope panel 10 and the second envelope panel 20 may beconfigured from or made of paper material which is generally light andfoldable. The first envelope panel 10 may be divided into the mainportion 11 and the flap portion 12. The flap portion 12 may be foldedtoward the main portion 11 along the folding line 13.

As shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the main portion 11 of the firstenvelope panel 10 may have a rectangular cross section and has threefirst peripheral edge portions 111. On the other hand, the secondenvelope panel 20 may also be configured from or made of paper material.The second envelope panel 20 may have three second peripheral edgeportions 21. The three first peripheral edge portions 111 may beconnected to the three second peripheral edge portions 21 respectivelyto form the receiving cavity 50 and the access opening 51. It isimportant to mention that other cross sectional shapes of the firstenvelope panel 10 and the second envelope panel 20 may also be possible.Moreover, the number of first peripheral edge portions 111 and thesecond peripheral edge portions 21 may also be varied so as to fitparticular circumstances in which the present invention is manufacturedor is to be used. The particular configuration and shapes of theenvelope shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 are only exemplary.

The first envelope panel 10 may further comprise an adhesive layer 14formed on an inner side of the flap portion 12, and a protective member15 detachably attached on the adhesive layer 14 for temporarilyprotecting the adhesive layer 14 when the envelope has not been sealed.The adhesive layer 14 may possess a predetermined amount of adhesiveability when it comes into contact with water. Alternatively, theadhesive layer 14 may possess inherent adhesive ability and may benormally but detachably covered by the protective member 15.

Thus, the flap portion 12 of the first envelope panel 10 may beselectively folded toward an second outer side surface 22 of the secondenvelope panel 20 along the folding line 13 so as to selectively closethe receiving cavity 50. When protective member 15 is removed from theadhesive layer 14 and the adhesive layer 14 is soaked with water or hasinherent adhesive ability, the adhesive layer 14 may attach the flapportion 12 to the outer side surface 22 of the second panel member 20for closing and sealing the receiving cavity 50.

The padded layer 30 may be attached on a first inner side surface 16 ofthe main portion 11 of the first envelope panel 10 and a second innerside surface 23 of the second envelope panel 20 for providing apredetermined amount of cushion effect to the items stored in thereceiving cavity 50. The padded layer 30 may comprise a plurality ofsealed cushion compartments 31 each filled with air for providing thecushion effect. When the items are stored in the receiving cavity 50,the sealed cushion compartments 31 may be arranged to absorb a certainamount of impact for protecting the items stored in the receiving cavity50.

Note that the padded layer 30 may be configured from or made of light,flexible, foldable and soft material so as to retain the generalflexibility and foldability of the entire envelope. A preferred materialis plastic. The padded layer 30 may cover a substantial portion of thefirst inner side surface 16 of the main portion 11 of the first envelopepanel 10 and the second inner side surface 23 of the second envelopepanel 20 but may not cover the folding line 13, which may beoverlappedly covered and reinforced by the reinforcing arrangement 40.

The reinforcing member 41 of the reinforcing arrangement 40 may beattached on the first envelope panel 10 along the folding line 13 so asto structurally reinforce the first envelope panel 10 in the vicinity ofthe folding line 13. The reinforcing member 41 may be configured from amaterial which is flexible and strong enough. The reinforcing member 41may be flexible so as not to interfere with the folding operation of theflap portion 12. The reinforcing member 41 may be structurally strongerthan that of the first envelope panel 10 and the second envelope panel20 so as to prevent the first envelope panel 10 from being accidentallytorn or damaged along and in the vicinity of the folding line 13. Anexemplary material for making the reinforcing member 41 may be plastic.Accordingly, the reinforcing member 41 may be elongated in shape and maybe arranged to overlappedly cover the folding line 13 formed on thefirst envelope panel 10. The reinforcing member 41 may have apredetermined width so that structural reinforcement may extend aroundthe folding line 13.

The operation of the present invention is as follows: a user mayinitially put several items in the receiving cavity 50 through theaccess opening 51. After that the user may then detach the protectivemember 15 from the flap portion 12 and that the adhesive layer 14 may beexposed for attaching on the second envelope panel 20. The user may thenfold the flap portion 12 toward the second envelope panel 20 along thefolding line 13 and attach the flap portion 12 on the second envelopepanel 20. The reinforcing member 41 may then be arranged to providestructural reinforcement to the flap portion 12 along and in thevicinity to the folding line 13.

Referring to FIG. 4 of the drawings, a first alternative mode of theenvelope according to the preferred embodiment of the present inventionis illustrated. The first alternative mode is similar to the preferredembodiment, except the reinforcing arrangement 40′. In the alternativemode, the reinforcing arrangement 40′ may comprise a reinforcing member41′ extended from a top side edge of the padded layer 30 on the mainportion 11 of the first envelope panel 10. In other words, thereinforcing member 41′ may extended from the padded layer 30 to formone-piece reinforcing structure for the entire envelope of the presentinvention. The reinforcing member 41′ may continue to provide structuralreinforcing to the and in the vicinity of the folding line 13.

Referring to FIG. 5 of the drawings, a second alternative mode of theenvelope according to the preferred embodiment of the present inventionis illustrated. The second alternative mode is similar to the firstalternative mode, except that the reinforcing member 41″ may also have aplurality of sealed cavities 411″ which may resemble the sealed cushioncompartments 31″ of the padded layer 30″. The padded layer 30″ may alsocover the main portion 11″ of the first envelope panel 10″, and theinner side surface of the second envelope panel 20″. Again, thereceiving cavity 50″ and the access opening 51″ may be formed betweenthe first envelope panel 10″ and the second envelope panel 20″.

Moreover, the adhesive layer 14″ may be overlappedly attached on thepadded member 41″, while the protective member 15 may be detachablyattached on the adhesive layer 14″

Referring to FIG. 6 of the drawings, a third alternative mode of theenvelope according to the preferred embodiment of the present inventionis illustrated. The third alternative mode is similar to the preferredembodiment, except the order of the reinforcing member 41A of thereinforcing arrangement 40A, the padded layer 30A, the adhesive layer14A, and the protective member 15A. In the third alternative mode, thereinforcing member 41A of the reinforcing arrangement 40A may bearranged to cover the entirety or a substantial portion of the flapportion 12A and the folding line 13A of the first envelope panel 10Awhile the adhesive layer 14A is overlappedly provided on the reinforcingmember 41A. As in the preferred embodiment, the protective member 15 isdetachably attached on the adhesive layer 14A, and the flap portion 12Aof the first envelope panel 10″ may be overlappedly attached on thesecond envelope panel 20A.

On the other hand, a lower portion 411A of the reinforcing member 41Amay be overlapped by a corresponding portion of the padded layer 30Ahaving the sealed cushion compartments 31A so that the lower portion411A may be sandwiched between a certain area of the main portion 11A ofthe first envelop panel 10A and the padded layer 30A. The configurationdescribed in the second alternative mode may provide an even more strongreinforcement to the first envelope panel 10A. The receiving cavity 50Aand the access opening 51A may also be formed between the first envelopepanel 10A and the second envelope panel 20A.

The present invention, while illustrated and described in terms of apreferred embodiment and several alternatives, is not limited to theparticular description contained in this specification. Additionalalternative or equivalent components could also be used to practice thepresent invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An envelope, comprising: a first envelope panelhaving a main portion and a flap portion foldably extended from saidmain portion along a folding line defined as a boundary between saidmain portion and said flap portion, said main portion having a firstperipheral edge portion; a second envelope panel having at least onesecond peripheral edge portion attached on said first peripheral edgeportion of said main portion of said first envelope panel to form areceiving cavity between said main portion and said second envelopepanel, and an access opening adjacent to said folding line; a paddedlayer attached on an inner side of said main portion of said firstenvelope panel and an inner side of said second envelope panel; and areinforcing arrangement which comprises a reinforcing member attached onsaid first envelope panel along said folding line so as to providestructural reinforcement to said first envelope panel along said foldingline.
 2. The envelope, as recited in claim 1, wherein said reinforcingmember of said reinforcing arrangement is arranged to cover asubstantial portion of an inner side of said flap portion and saidfolding line of said first envelope panel while said adhesive layer isoverlappedly provided on said reinforcing member.
 3. The envelope, asrecited in claim 2, wherein a lower portion of said reinforcing memberis overlapped by a corresponding portion of said padded layer so thatsaid lower portion is sandwiched between said main portion of said firstenvelop panel and said padded layer.
 4. The envelope, as recited inclaim 1, wherein said reinforcing arrangement may comprise a reinforcingmember integrally extended from a top side edge of said padded layer onsaid main portion of said first envelope panel for forming a one-piecereinforcing structure for said envelope.
 5. The envelope, as recited inclaim 4, wherein said reinforcing member has a plurality of sealedcavities filled with air.
 6. The envelope, as recited in claim 1,wherein said padded layer has a plurality of sealed cushion compartmentseach filled with air for providing cushion effect to items stored insaid receiving cavity.
 7. The envelope, as recited in claim 3, whereinsaid padded layer has a plurality of sealed cushion compartments eachfilled with air for providing cushion effect to items stored in saidreceiving cavity.
 8. The envelope, as recited in claim 5, wherein saidpadded layer has a plurality of sealed cushion compartments each filledwith air for providing cushion effect to items stored in said receivingcavity.
 9. The envelope, as recited in claim 6, wherein said firstenvelope panel further comprises an adhesive layer formed on an innerside of said flap portion.
 10. The envelope, as recited in claim 7,wherein said first envelope panel further comprises an adhesive layerformed on an inner side of said flap portion.
 11. The envelope, asrecited in claim 8, wherein said first envelope panel further comprisesan adhesive layer formed on an inner side of said flap portion.
 12. Theenvelope, as recited in claim 9, wherein said first envelope panelfurther comprises a protective member detachably attached on saidadhesive layer.
 13. The envelope, as recited in claim 10, wherein saidfirst envelope panel further comprises a protective member detachablyattached on said adhesive layer.
 14. The envelope, as recited in claim11, wherein said first envelope panel further comprises a protectivemember detachably attached on said adhesive layer.
 15. The envelope, asrecited in claim 12, wherein said main portion of said first envelopepanel has a rectangular cross section and has three first peripheraledge portions, said second envelope panel having three second peripheraledge portions, said three first peripheral edge portions being connectedto said three second peripheral edge portions respectively to form saidreceiving cavity and said access opening.
 16. The envelope, as recitedin claim 13, wherein said main portion of said first envelope panel hasa rectangular cross section and has three first peripheral edgeportions, said second envelope panel having three second peripheral edgeportions, said three first peripheral edge portions being connected tosaid three second peripheral edge portions respectively to form saidreceiving cavity and said access opening.
 17. The envelope, as recitedin claim 14, wherein said main portion of said first envelope panel hasa rectangular cross section and has three first peripheral edgeportions, said second envelope panel having three second peripheral edgeportions, said three first peripheral edge portions being connected tosaid three second peripheral edge portions respectively to form saidreceiving cavity and said access opening.
 18. The envelope, as recitedin claim 15, wherein said reinforcing member is configured from amaterial which is flexible and strong.
 19. The envelope, as recited inclaim 16, wherein said reinforcing member is configured from a materialwhich is flexible and strong.
 20. The envelope, as recited in claim 17,wherein said reinforcing member is configured from a material which isflexible and strong.